Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210511
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The city is facing increasing pressure from state agencies to upgrade and expand both its water-filter plants and the sewage-treatment plant, City Manager Robert Herbert said Wednesday.
Herbert said major improvements are needed to both sewer and water systems because they are operating "at or near" capacity.
City officials have proposed that the sewer and water rates be increased gradually to help cushion the financial impact on city residents.
City Council is expected to vote on the rate increases Monday after the city's Water Resources Committee reviews recommendations made by Herbert today.
His recommendations were expected to call for rates to be increased by 10 percent or more in each of the next five years to provide an overall increase in the range of 60 percent.
Herbert said the city needs to spend $17.1 million on water facilities and $15.5 million on the sewage-treatment plant and related facilities.
The needed improvements to the sewer system and treatment plant are estimated to cost $43.6 million, but Roanoke's share will be $15.5 million.
The treatment plant is operated by Roanoke, but serves as a regional facility. Roanoke treats sewage from Salem, Vinton, Roanoke County and Botetourt County under a contractual agreement.
Those localities will be required to help pay for the treatment-plant expansion and major new sewer interceptors, based on their volume of sewage.
"It's not a crisis and this is not something that is unexpected," Herbert said.
Roanoke's water and sewer rates have historically been among the lowest in the state.
The city's rates are substantially lower than Salem, Roanoke County and several other localities.
The combined monthly sewer and water bill for a typical Roanoke resident is $8.36, based on 4,500 gallons of water usage.
The charges for similar service in other localities is: Salem, $12.53; Roanoke County, $20.79; Richmond, $32.29; Lynchburg, $13.80; and Staunton, $15.48.
Roanoke has an adequate water supply in the Carvins Cove reservoir, Falling Creek reservoir and Crystal Springs, said Kit Kiser, director of utilities and operations.
But he said the Carvins Cove filter plant's treatment capacity needs to be increased from 18 million to 28 million gallons a day. A pump station also needs to be upgraded and major new transmission line is needed to help transport water, he said.
During a drought two years ago, the city had plenty of water, Kiser said, "but we had a problem in getting enough water treated and distributed throughout the city."
Even though water was available in the Carvins Cove reservoir, the filter plant, pumps and pipes could not process and transport the water fast enough.
Herbert said the heavy demand during hot and dry periods can cause the water levels in storage tanks to drop, causing water-pressure problems and potential hazards in water availability for fire protection.
The state Health Department has told the city that it must renovate and upgrade the Falling Creek water filter plant.
Herbert provided a breakdown on the proposed improvements and cost estimates for the water system:
Upgrading and expanding the Carvins Cove filter plant, $8.9 million.
A major transmission line from the Carvins Cove plant to the Delray Street pump station, $4.2 million.
A low-lift pump station expansion at the Carvins Cove plant, $2.3 million.
Improvements to the water intake at the Carvins Cove dam, $645,150.
Upgrading and expansion of the Falling Creek filter plant, $1 million.
The proposed improvements and estimates for the sewer system include:
Sewage-treatment plant expansion, $17 million.
Sewage-treatment plant renovations, $4.1 million.
Replacement of the Roanoke River interceptor line, $17.8 million.
Replacement of the Tinker Creek interceptor line, $4.6 million.
The sewage-treatment plant has a rated capacity to handle 35 million gallons of sewage a day, but the average flow has exceeded that amount in the past 13 months.
Kiser said the flow has averaged about 38 million to 40 million gallons a day. The plant has violated parts of the state's permit dealing with the volume of discharge into the Roanoke River, but the level of pollutants has complied with the permit.
The state Water Control Board has tolds the city to develop plans for expanding the treatment plant and consultants have proposed plans for the expansion project.
If the plant continues to violate permit restrictions on the volume of sewage, the state could impose a ban on new sewer connections.
by CNB